What is a water shortage contingency plan?

A water shortage contingency plan results from gathering and analyzing climate, water supply, and demand data to better understand the potential impact of drought or other water shortage on our water supply. The plan evaluates water supply data and identifies processes to detect early warning signs of drought; establishes stages and triggers to identify when projected supplies reach levels where response actions are needed; identifies response actions by stage to effect quick water use reductions; and, identifies potential vulnerabilities and mitigation measures to minimize potential impacts of water shortages in the future.

Why does a water shortage contingency plan matter?

Water shortage or drought may result from a variety of circumstances such as climate change, regular climate variability, water supply contamination, system disruption or interruption, and even unanticipated surges in demand. This Drought and Water Shortage Contingency Plan is intended as a guide for monitoring, measuring, mitigating, and responding to water supply shortages or disruptions as a result of any of these or other scenarios. For the purposes of this plan, all circumstances resulting in water shortages may be referred to as “drought”.

How much water do we need to save?

At this time in Stage 2, Salt Lake City is calling for a reduction of 10 million gallons of water per day. Residents and businesses can achieve this goal through voluntary reductions in indoor and outdoor water use. City facilities and government institutions are required to stay within their irrigation-only meter budgets and reduce indoor water use by 10%.

What actions do I need to take?

Besides the specific calls for action to government facilities, Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities is also asking residents, businesses, and other institutional customers to take action to help with water conservation:

• Check sprinkler systems: Identify broken or misaligned spray heads.
• Check for indoor leaks: Check indoor faucets and fixtures for leaks and repair promptly.
• Delay outdoor watering: Lawn irrigation can be delayed until early May, though trees and shrubs, especially those that are newly planted, may need water. 
• Sign up for a free water check: Offered from May to August, the service helps you determine efficient outdoor watering levels and improvements for water conservation.
• Review your WaterMAPS report: Found where you view your water bill, this report can provide insight into your watering habits and help identify opportunities for conservation.
• SLC TurfTrade: SLCPU customers can purchase low-water grass seed that needs 30% less water than typical Bluegrass lawn.
• Landscape Transformations: Various programs offer residential rebates for changes that implement conservation measures.
• Weekly Lawn Watering Guide: Follow the Utah Division of Water Resources, which shares customized watering recommendations for your area and lawn type that are updated weekly.
• Explore other water-saving tips: Take advantage of the City’s water saving tips and landscape information at http://www.slcgardenwise.com.

Will there be water restrictions?

In Stage 2, all municipal and government facilities in our service area are required to water within provided budgets, adhere to best practices (such as time of day watering) and also reduce indoor water use by 10%. This includes state, federal, and other local governments within the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities service area.

Will I still be able to turn my sprinklers on?

Yes, reasonable water use is allowed in Stage 2, but avoid overwatering and wasteful water practices. We ask that you reduce outdoor water use by about 30 gallons a day or 210 gallons a week. This is easily achieved by just watering one day less than you would normally water.

The Utah Division of Water Resources publishes a weekly lawn watering guide on social media that is extremely helpful to homeowners. We recommend waiting until at least mid-May to start watering your lawns.

Check your irrigation system – sprinklers and drip lines – to make sure you don’t have leaks and that they’re as efficient as possible. We offer a free water-check program through Utah State University to evaluate irrigation systems for efficiency and provide recommendations to improve them. This will help you use less water to maintain your landscape.